chimney probably already has separate flues for furnace and fireplace. how many terracotta pipes can you see sticking out the top of the chimney?

 

Unfortunately I think the contractor used the chimney as a shortcut. All I can see is the stainless steel chimney cap. I don't think there's an actual flue either. House built in 1924 with few upgrades until I moved in.

 

That can be a real problem. Clay lined chimneys were intended for relatively hot flue gases to prevent condensing on the cool clay pipe and need a certain BTU depending on climate and chimney size to warm up hte brick enough during a heating cycle to keep acidic flue gases from condensing. The clay can tolerate that, but if hte clay tile lining it is compromised, the acidic condensate will eat through lime based mortar and worse could even excape into the home. That's why a inspecton is recommeded.

My home had the original oil boiler vented directly into my chimny in my 1925 home. Later a gas boiler vented into it and a water ehater vented into another part of the chimney. Rather than reline the chimney or even both inspecting it, I went to a tankless water heater as my solution. I'm actually thinking now of venting my furnace and water heater with PVC up the chimney due to less than ideal locations for venting at groudn level (near condenser and tankless near an outdoor water spigot).

Get it inspected and see what their recommendation is.

 

best to get chimney guy into look at it.:.02:

 

Contact your chimney professional for a Level II inspection. This will cover both the heater and fireplace flues and dictate what repairs if any are indicated. If you tell him you intend on installing a gas direct vent insert, he can evaluate the installation for you with regards to what repairs would still be required even with the insert as opposed to just keeping it as an open hearth fireplace.

 

Thanks, guys! I'll get a pro to take a closer look.

One more question: someone told me that one option would be to redirect the furnace exhaust using a Fields Control power venter and use the chimney for the gas fireplace venting. Does this sound like a good idea? FYI--furnace is about 10' from the wall through which I could run the piping. Thoughts?

 

You can ask the chimney pro but he may not be familiar with a power venter for HVAC. Does this chimney have one flue to two? You can NOT common vent a furnace with a fireplace and as gas direct vent fireplace requires two aluminum liners-one for fresh air intake and one for exhaust. You should not be running the venting but paying a pro to do it.

 

Oh, I'm definitely not going to do it. I'd rather pay a pro as opposed to calling the fire department

I'm from the south and have never had a fireplace before, but the previous homeowner said there is no flue. The furnace exhaust runs through the piping that runs up the chimney, and my question essentially is whether or not it is safe to run additional piping through the chimney for the hopefully-soon-to-be-installed gas fireplace insert. If I can only run one pipe, what are my options? I'd rather not have to cut another hole in the roof, and I don't want to run the exhaust vent through the side of the house and up an ugly pipe running all the way up the side of the house beyond the top of the roof. I'm hoping to get this done safely and in the most aesthetically-pleasing way possible for if/when I ever sell the house.

 

Thanks, Motoguy! I actually really want to get a tankless water heater anyway (mainly because my house is so small), and that would be one less thing to vent.

Thanks to everyone for the information! I am so glad I found this site. I just wanted to get some other advice so I have something by which to gauge what a fireplace/chimney inspector would report. Now I have something to work with, and I'll definitely post an update once the inspection occurs.

The questions I'll ask:
1. What is the condition of the chimney? Are any repairs needed?
2. Is there a flue?
3. Are the hot water heater and furnace properly vented?
4. If I want a vented gas fireplace insert installed, how would you go about the installation and venting?
5. Would a tankless hot water heater or a power-vent for the furnace either improve the existing utilities or make future upgrades easier/cheaper?

Thanks again!!!

 

Off-topic question: does anyone know of a site like this where I could ask questions about home renovations, plumbing, etc.? For instance, I have a small, non-load bearing wall between my kitchen and dining room, and I'd like to turn that into a breakfast bar to open-up the area.

Another question is: I have verrrrry old water pipes in my basement, and I'd like to replace all of it with pvc, but is it okay to use cpvc or schedule 40 pvc to do this?

 

You can check out the Journal of Light Construction and post questions there by topic.

CPVC is for hot water. Why not PEX?